Lot 57. A coral, kingfisher feather and pearl-inset gilt metal torque, lingyue, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Estimate GBP 3,000 - GBP 5,000. Price realised GBP 93,750. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017.

Its body is divided into six sections inset with coral divided by kingfisher feather and hardstone mounts, the terminals confronting spheres forming hinges attaching to the two pivoting front sections, the reverse chased with alternating panels enclosing flowers and butterflies and the Buddhist endless knot. The blue ribbons are hung with tourmaline and hardstone pendants and are mounted with double happiness characters, xi, worked in seed pearl and coral either side of coral beads carved with shou characters. 6 7/8 in. (17.3 cm.) diam.

Note: The jewelled torque, known as lingyue, was worn around the neck over the collar of a court robe and formed an important part of the formal attire of Qing dynasty noble women and members of the Imperial family. The wife of Emperor Qianlong, Empress Xiaoxianchun, for example, is depicted in her portrait with a gold lingyue inset with coral and pearls, illustrated in The Splendours of Royal Costume Qing Court Attire, Hong Kong, 2013, p. 21. A gold torque inset with eight segments of coral and pearls in the National Palace Museum is illustrated in Catalogue of the Exhibition of Ch'ing Dynasty Costume Accessories, Taipei, 1986, no. 75. A silver example inlaid with six segments of coral, kingfisher and rubies in the Beijing Palace Museum is illustrated in Treasures of Imperial Court, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2004, pl. 143. Christie's Hong Kong sold a coral and pearl-inset gold torque, 28 May 2014, lot 3355.

A rare coral and pearl-inset gold torque, lingyue, Qing dynasty (1644-1911); 7 1/8 in. (18 cm.) diam.. Sold for 625,000 HKD at Christie's Hong Kong, 28 May 2014, lot 3355. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017.

Finely woven with gold wires, its body divided into six sections inset with coral divided by pearl beads, the terminals confronting spheres forming hinges attaching to the two pivoting front sections, each chased with feather motifs, suspending coral pendants.

Note: The open-ended torque, known as lingyue, was worn around the neck over the collar of a court robe and formed an important part of the formal attire of Qing court ladies. The wife of Emperor Qianlong, Empress Xiaoxianchun, for example, is depicted in her portrait with a gold lingyue similarly inset with coral and pearls, illustrated in The Splendours of Royal Costume Qing Court Attire, Hong Kong, 2013, p. 21. Both Palace Museums have similar examples. A gold torque inset with eight segments of coral and pearls in the National Palace Museum is illustrated in Catalogue of the Exhibition of Ch'ing Dynasty Costume Accessories, Taipei, 1986, no. 75. A silver example inlaid with six segments of coral, kingfisher and rubies in the Beijing Palace Museum is illustrated in Treasures of Imperial Court, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2004, pl. 143.